LETTER TO LINCOLN D. FAURER FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001502640026-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: January 16, 2008
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: May 24, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502640026-9
The Director of Central Intelligence
Wsnin,tun. U . C. 20505
OGC 83-04207
Lieutenant General Lincoln D. Faurer, USAF
Director, National Security Agency
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755
24 MAY
I am in receipt of your' memorandum dated 5 May concerning
the proposed "Intelligence Information Act of 1983." I want to
assure you that in considering this legislation we kept the
needs of NSA and the rest of the Intelligence Community closely
in mind.
As you know, we sought to have legislation cleared for
introduction in the 97th Congress which would have provided-a
total exclusion from the FOIA for CIA, NSA, and DIA, as well as
for other Intelligence Community components specified by
Executive order. This proposal was not cleared for
.transmission to the Hill until the middle of the second
session, when it was too late to accomplish passage. While a
total- exclusion- r.ema:Lns_ the- most preferable option from the
standpoint of obtaining.-relief.from the burdens of the FOIA for
the` Intelligence Community, it is,.unfortunately, the least
politically feasible approach.
I am enclosing for your information a copy of President
Reagan's response to the'letter from Senator Goldwater-which
you reference in paragraph one of your memorandum...--As you can
see from the letter,.the-President supports "appropriate
legislative relief" from the FOIA for all the agencies within.
the Intelligence Community...We believe that the proposed
"Intelligence Information Act" will provide the CIA with
substantial relief from the burdens of the FOIA, and we have
.left open the possibility for other Intelligence Community
agencies to be included. You indicated in your memorandum,.,
however, that inclusion of NSA in this legislation would not
provide you with the relief you need because your records and
record-keeping differ substantially from CIA's. .-
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 Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502640026-9
While I agree that the enactment of FOIA relief legislation
for CIA alone could possibly give rise to a perception that
NSA's need for relief is not as urgent as CIA's, I do not
believe that such a law could, in fact, adversely affect NSA's
current excellent FOIA position which is the result of judicial
decisions which, in effect, close off most of NSA SIGINT
material to FOIA.requesters. Nevertheless, in order to combat
any adverse impact on NSA within the Congress or the courts, I
agree that every effort should be made in the course of the
legislative proceedings leading to enactment of the CIA bill to
ensure that NSA's current position vis-a-vis the FOIA, as
interpreted by the courts, finds favor with the Congress.
Sincerely,
/S/ William 1 Case)
William J. Casey
Distribution List:
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DCI
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Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502640026-9